Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

EVENTS

McCain’s Idiotic Take on Ferguson’s Comments

No, not John McCain — Robert Stacy McCain, wingnut extraordinaire and first class bigot on nearly every issue. In the wake of Niall Ferguson’s vile statements about John Maynard Keynes, McCain offers this utterly moronic take on the situation. Explaining why he isn’t on the Harvard faculty, he says:

Besides the fact that all I’ve got is a bachelor’s degree from a third-tier state university, there’s also the problem that I don’t think it’s necessary to apologize for saying bad things about dead bisexual British economists, which is now apparently taboo. You can badmouth dead people or defame the British or libel an economist unless any of them happen to be bisexual, in which case, they are beyond reproach.

Seriously? That’s what you take away from the situation? Then you’re either a liar or a moron. No one is saying that Keynes is “beyond reproach” and can’t be criticized. Other economists, including Ferguson, have criticized Keynes on his economic theories for decades and no one has ever reacted the way they have to his disgusting comments about Keynes not caring about the future because he’s gay.

Niall Ferguson says, in effect, “John Maynard Keynes was a bad economist who was wrong about everything and also, he was gay, which might be relevant to the problem.” OUTRAGE!

Well, here you go: Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer and a cannibal, and also, he was gay, which might be relevant to the problem.

Except it isn’t relevant to the problem in either case. And any rational, decent person would know that. You don’t have to worry about saying goodbye to your Harvard appointment; you’ve already said goodbye to any claim to be taken seriously.

The “How We Won the James Randi Million Dollar Challenge Post” currently at #1 is being spammed all over the web. I expect Mr. Randi will be surprised to learn he’s awarded the million. So we’ve got an idiot making an off-topic response to a post about an idiot.

Besides [T]he fact [is] that all I’ve got is a bachelor’s degree from a third-tier state university[.] there’s also the problem that I don’t think it’s necessary to apologize for saying bad things about dead bisexual British economists, which is now apparently taboo.

According to the Fount of a Lot of Knowledge, Lord Baron Keynes was… the most influential economist of the 20th century. Keyne’s title of Baron was given to him for service to the UK over decades and he was made a member of the House of Lords.

And McCain is what. One of millions of mindless right wing extremists and bigots. Another mental cockroach lurking in the darkness of our society.

Niall’s insult was an ad hominen. He is an anti-Keynesian economist who can’t make a case based on history or the facts. This is a sign of a dishonest, tenth rate intellect. Ferguson is just another right winger, frequently wrong, plays fast and lose with facts and data, and lies a lot. Paul Krugman, Nobel laurate, called him a “poseur” who doesn’t think too deeply or too well.

wikipedia:

John Maynard KeynesFrom Wikipedia, the free

John Maynard Keynes, 1st Baron Keynes,[1] CB, FBA (pron.: /ˈkeɪnz/ KAYNZ; 5 June 1883 – 21 April 1946) was a British economist whose ideas have fundamentally affected the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics, and informed the economic policies of governments. He built on and greatly refined earlier work on the causes of business cycles, and is widely considered to be one of the founders of modern macroeconomics

and the most influential economist of the 20th century.[2][3][4][5]

His ideas are the basis for the school of thought known as Keynesian economics, as well as its various offshoots. In many ways, subsequent developments in 20th century economics can be viewed as either building on Keynes’ ideas or reacting against them.

Wikipedia also says he was bisexual and not childless by choice. He was married to a Russian ballerina who got pregnant but miscarried.

It’s that he is an idiot and a right wing hack. Niall still thinks the Iraq war was a great idea, is a big fan of the white man’s burden and colonialism, supported Romney, is a supply side economics fan, is frequently wrong, and occasionally lies.

He isn’t a historian or an economist. He is a right wing propagandist and political operative

His hack works have been criticised extensively by a lot of well known and respected intellectuals.

Lost in all of this is the rather important point that even Ferguson’s criticisms of Keynes that don’t mention his sexuality or morality are WRONG also — Keynes ideas/positions have been demonstrated by the historical record to be more correct than his critics/opponents. THAT is what people should be talking about, not whether or not a bigot apologized or if the apology washes it all away.

I don’t think you’re being serious, but just in case, as a Brit I’d abolish titles of “nobility” and the whole “honours” system if I could, and I call the eminent economist “Keynes”, or “John Maynard Keynes” if there is any possibility of confusion. Raven insists on using his title, but doesn’t know how to, or bother to find out. Incidentally, the reason “Baron Keynes” is unusual is that a baron(ess) is the lowliest, common-as-muck type of peer(ess*) – members of the superior ranks (viscount(ess), earl/countess, marquis(e), duke/duchess in ascending order) would more often have the specific title used.

*Wives of peers also get to use the title, but women can also be granted them in their own right, like Lady Thatcher, who was made a baroness (but husbands of peers don’t get the title).